
Dr. Nicole Hutchison is a Principal Investigator (PI) and research engineer at the Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC). Her primary work through the SERC has been in human capital development research. This has included development of competency frameworks for systems engineering (the Helix project), digital engineering, and mission engineering. Currently, Dr. Hutchison is the PI for the Simulation Training Environment for Digital Engineering, a project that is developing realistic models to be used in training the DoD acquisition workforce in a way that builds hands-on digital engineering skills.
She has previously served on the BKCASE research team, which resulted in the development of the Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge (SEBoK). She is currently the Managing Editor for the SEBoK and the Lead Editor for the “Enabling Systems Engineering” section of the SEBoK.
Before joining the SERC, she spent 5 years working for Analytic Services, Inc., supporting the US Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, and Justice. She has helped to plan and conduct exercises in Emergency Management, helped run the Louisiana Family Assistance Center following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and served 10 years in emergency medicine. She holds a PhD in systems engineering from Stevens as well as a master’s degree in Biohazardous Threat Agents and Emerging Infectious Disease from Georgetown University. Dr. Hutchison is an active member of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE), currently serving on as the INCOSE Events Portfolio Manager and on the INCOSE Certification Advisory Board. She holds her Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) credential.
- SERC-2013-TR-038-1-The Helix Project
- SERC-2013-TR-038-2-Helix – Phases 1 and 2
- SERC-2014-TR-038-3-Helix – Phase 3
- SERC-2014-TR-038-4-Atlas: The Theory of Effective Systems Engineers, Version 0.25
- SERC-2014-TR-038-3-Helix – Phase 3
- SERC-2015-TR-108-Atlas: The Theory of Effective Systems Engineers, Version 0.5
- SERC-2016-TR-106-Atlas 0.6: Expanding on the Theory of Effective Systems Engineers
- SERC-2016-TR-119-The Development of Atlas: The Theory of Effective Systems Engineers
- SERC-2010-TR-013-1-Technical Leadership Development Program– Year 1
- SERC-2014-TR-013-5-Technical Leadership Development Program – Year 5
- SERC-2012-TR-013-2-Technical Leadership Development Program– Year 2
- SERC-2012-TR-013-3-Technical Leadership Development Program– Year 3
- SERC-2013-TR-013-4-Technical Leadership Development Program – Year 4
- SERC-2018-TR-106-Mission Engineering Competencies
- SERC-2015-TR-110-Extending Atlas to Non-Defense Systems Engineers and to Classic Engineers
- SERC-2018-TR-101-Helix
- SERC-2018-TR-101-A-Atlas 1.1: An Update to the Theory of Effective Systems Engineers
- SERC-2018-TR-101-B-Atlas 1.1 Implementation Guide: Moving from Theory into Practice
- SERC-2018-TR-101-C-Atlas Career Path Guidebook: Patterns and Common Practices in Systems Engineers’ Development
- SERC-2019-TR-001-Helix: Developing an Understanding of Organizational Systems Engineering Effectiveness
- SERC-2020-TR-007-WRT-1004: Helix
- SERC‐2020‐TR‐007‐A-Atlas: Effective Systems Engineers and Systems Engineering
- SERC-2020-TR-010-WRT-1006 Technical Report: Developing the Digital Engineering Competency Framework (DECF), Version 1.0
- SERC-2021-TR-005-WRT-1006 Technical Report: Developing the Digital Engineering Competency Framework (DECF) – Phase 2
- SERC-2021-TR-008-WRT-1018: DAU Credential Development
- SERC-2022-TR-003-WRT-1043: DAU Digital Simulations (Base Year)
- SERC-2023-TR-007-WRT-1043: DAU Digital Engineering Simulation (Option Year 1)
Lead Author
- Conference Paper - Analysis of the References From the Guide to the Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge (SEBoK)
- Conference Paper - Experiences From Creating the Guide to the Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge (SEBoK) V. 1.0
- Conference Paper - Whatʼs in a Wiki?
- Conference Paper - Program Accreditation and the Graduate Reference Curriculum in Systems Engineering (GRCSE™)
- Conference Paper - Developing Systems Engineering Graduate Programs Aligned to the Body of Knowledge and Curriculum to Advance Systems Engineering (BKCASE) Guidelines
- Conference Paper - Research Issues Raised by the Guide to the Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge
- Journal Article - Managing the Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge
- Poster - The Helix Project
- Poster - SSRR 2015: RT-130 & 135: The Helix Project
- Poster - RT 173: Helix
- Poster - RT 171: Mission Engineering Competencies
- Poster - Investigating the DNA of the System Engineering Workforce
- Poster - The Helix Project
- Poster - Helix: Developing an Understanding of Organizational Systems Engineering Effectiveness
- Presentation - RT4 Systems Engineering Technical Leadership
- Presentation - Mission Engineering Competencies
- Presentation - Developing an Understanding of Organizational Systems Engineering Effectiveness
- Presentation - SSRR 2021 "WRT-1043 | DAU Digital Engineering Simulation"
- Presentation - ARR 2022 | WRT-1006: Developing the Digital Engineering Competency Framework (DECF)
- Presentation - ARR 2022 | WRT-1043: Defense Acquisition University (DAU) Digital Engineering Simulation
- Workshop Report - Report on the First Helix Workshop: Exploring the Theory of Systems Engineers’ Effectiveness
- Other - Research Transition Report 2017 “Transitioning research into practice – crossing boundaries through integrative collaboration”
- Other - AIRC Perspectives: Critical Competencies to Support Digital Transformation in Acquisition
- Other - Executive Summary: Agile Acquisition: History and Recommendations
- Other - Executive Summary: Agile Acquisition: History and Recommendations
- Other - Executive Summary and Report: Agile Acquisition: History and Recommendations
Co-Author
- Poster - Mission Engineering Competencies
- Helix – Developing Effective Systems Engineers
- Developing Systems Engineering Technical Leadership
- Mission Engineering Competencies
- Body Of Knowledge And Curriculum To Advance Systems Engineering (BKCASE)
- Digital Engineering Competency Framework
- DAU Credential Development
- DAU – Digital Engineering Simulation